The Center for Investigating Healthy Minds

Community outreach

Outreach is about connecting with the community, and CIHM is developing new and better ways to keep the public informed and engaged. The events, services, social media forums, materials and programs it offers aim to address growing interest and curiosity in the community while expanding the Center's core mission. The outreach component – extending our work beyond the walls of a laboratory - is what makes CIHM truly unique. Moving these efforts forward requires innovative partnerships and flexible resources.

Research in the community - Resilience-building programs for combat veterans

The CIHM has begun evaluating and comparing different contemplative-based interventions in veteran populations on a broad range of outcome measures. Unpublished pilot data from a CIHM study conducted this past fall suggests positive outcomes, and warrants a larger, more comprehensive study to further examine potential benefits. Results will provide information on the value of resilience-building programs and will also provide information to clinicians on how to best match veterans to effective programs. This research currently necessitates long-term funding for a larger study with a brain-imaging component.

Research in the community - Mindfulness in the classroom

The CIHM is currently researching the effects of mindfulness with Madison area children and educators. Two studies are underway – one with preschoolers, the other with 5th graders – both exploring the impact of mindfulness meditation on children's learning, ability to focus attention and awareness of internal emotions and thoughts. Next steps could involve expanding and building upon the current study design, which will require significant long-term funding. The CIHM also continues exploring new research collaborations related to mindfulness, children and educators.

Basic research - Impact of meditation on gene expression

In conjunction with our current NCCAM study, we have the facilities, research team and resources to begin exploring epigenetic changes induced by meditation. The opportunity to move forward with this research is timely, and exceptionally unique. Our researchers are positioned to piggyback an epigenetic component on to the NCCAM study, significantly decreasing the start-up costs of such research.

Unrestricted gifts

When you give an unrestricted gift to CIHM, you give it the flexibility to take on new opportunities, strengthen ongoing programs and meet unexpected financial needs. While in a start-up phase, these gifts are invaluable in providing CIHM the ability to undertake these challenges, whether it is purchasing research materials, holding training seminars or offering outreach activities, it can direct funds wherever the need is greatest.

In addition to unrestricted gifts, you can also inquire about our CIHM Wish List, a compilation of materials, supplies and ideas that require funding. To learn more about this wish list, contact Bonnie Thorne, Senior Director of Development.